how to prepare to begin cancer treatment

Before You Begin Cancer Treatment.

• Have a Clear Plan. “One of the single most important things you can do is to make sure you and your cancer care team are on the same page about ...
• Plan for What You Can.
• Tap Into Your Network.
• Take a Close Look at Your Place.
• Practice Healthy Habits.

Full Answer

How can I prepare for a cancer diagnosis?

There’s no preparing for a cancer diagnosis. But when it comes to treatment, you can get yourself ready for what’s ahead. Even taking small steps can improve your sense of well-being and control, experts say. Here are some things to do before your chemotherapy or radiation treatment begins.

What is the first step in cancer treatment?

If the cancer is resectable (can be removed completely with surgery), then surgery is often used as a first step in cancer treatment. If the surgery works, your cancer will be removed; if surgery doesn’t remove all of the malignant tissue, you may need to be treated with chemotherapy or radiation.

How can I prepare for chemotherapy and radiation treatment?

Make lifestyle changes. Chemotherapy and radiation treatment can take months, and may require dramatic lifestyle adjustments. You may need to take time off from work if the treatment will temporarily incapacitate you or require you to relax.

How to cope with cancer treatment on a daily basis?

Depending on the severity of your cancer treatment, you may need to hire a caregiver to administer medication on a regular basis or to help you with activities such as eating or bathing. [12] Join a support group. It’s important that you can share the experiences you’re going through with other individuals who are also going to cancer treatment.

How do I prepare for first round of chemo?

Before your first chemotherapy infusionLet your oncology care team demystify chemotherapy for you. ... Keep your other medical care up-to-date. ... Eat well now and later. ... Arrange for help at home and work. ... Ask someone to come to your first appointment for support and company. ... Prepare a bag to bring with you.More items...•

How do I prepare for my first oncology appointment?

At the appointment, ask this:What kind of cancer do I have? ... What stage is it? ... Do I have to undergo any further diagnostic tests before we can begin treatment?Should I see a specialist? ... What are my treatment options?Which treatment or combination of treatments would you recommend and why?More items...•

How do I prepare for chemo at home?

You may want to keep bleach or sanitizing wipes around your house. Use gloves when you clean. You may be more sensitive to smells if you're in chemotherapy....You or someone else should disinfect items like these once a day:Tables and countertops.Refrigerator handles.Phones.Keyboards.Remote controls.Toilets and faucets.

What does an oncologist do on first visit?

At the first appointment, the oncologist will talk about treatment options. The doctor will explain which ones are available, how effective they are and what the side effects may be. Then the oncologist will recommend a course and talk about when the treatments should take place.

What happens when you see an oncologist for the first time?

Your initial oncology appointment may include: A comprehensive meeting and evaluation with your WVCI oncologist – a cancer specialist. A meeting with your oncology nurse and other members of your cancer care team. Additional tests for an accurate diagnosis to help guide your personalized cancer treatment plan.

What should you not do during chemotherapy?

9 things to avoid during chemotherapy treatmentContact with body fluids after treatment. ... Overextending yourself. ... Infections. ... Large meals. ... Raw or undercooked foods. ... Hard, acidic, or spicy foods. ... Frequent or heavy alcohol consumption. ... Smoking.More items...•

Do you need someone to drive you home after chemotherapy?

In most cases, your healthcare provider will ask you to get a ride home after your first session to see how you will tolerate the chemo. If you feel well the first time around, you may be advised that it's okay to drive home for future sessions.

Can I take a shower after chemo?

Personal Hygiene Chemo drugs can dry and irritate your skin. This can lead to small cuts and other openings, which makes it easier for infections to get in. To protect your skin and lower the risk of infection: Shower or bathe daily with mild soap and a soft washcloth.

What type of cancer needs to be treated right away?

You have a type of cancer that needs to be treated right away, like some leukemias, lymphomas, and certain other cancers that tend to be aggressive (grow and spread very fast). You have a tumor that's pressing on an organ or other vital part of the body, and treatment is needed to relieve the pressure.

Do you need to make adjustments before starting treatment?

You want more time to get a second opinion. It's important to know each person's case is different.

Does cancer need to be started right away?

Does cancer treatment always need to be started right away? Sometimes, it's important to start treatment as quickly as possible, but that's not always the case. Planning cancer treatment can be complex and might take some time, depending on the type and stage of your cancer.

Plan for What You Can

No matter what your treatment is, you won’t feel your best during recovery. So think about what you might need and plan ahead.

Tap Into Your Network

Have friends and family help you figure out what you need -- and what you don’t. (For example, maybe you don’t need lots of extra food in your fridge.)

Take a Close Look at Your Place

Once you get home, you might need to recover in a certain area, like your living room or bedroom. Think about what is where.

Practice Healthy Habits

Take note of your mental and physical health. In the days or weeks before your treatment, make sure to eat healthy and exercise if you can. Improve your mental health with meditation, yoga, or talking to a therapist. How you feel going into treatment can affect how you feel while it’s underway.

Expect Changes in Your Appearance

Chemo and radiation may cause hair loss, weight loss, or skin rashes as side effects. Prepare yourself for these possibilities. “You don’t want to be blindsided,” Griffith says.

How to make a decision about cancer treatment?

Ask your doctor how much time you have to decide. Delaying your decision and spending time worrying about it can drain your energy, so don't draw out the process too long.

How to make a reasonable treatment decision?

To make a reasonable treatment decision, keep in mind the type of cancer you have, its stage, what treatment options are available and how likely these treatments are to work under these circumstances. Talk to your doctor about trustworthy websites, books and patient education materials to supplement your discussions.

Why do you partner with your doctor?

Partnering with your doctor to make decisions about your cancer treatment may make you feel more confident as you begin your cancer treatment. Find out how to get involved.

What to ask your doctor about your health?

Your health in general. If you have other health conditions, ask your doctor how treatment will affect those conditions.

How to make sure you're getting the information you need to make an informed decision?

Effective communication with your doctor is the best way to make sure you're getting the information you need to make an informed decision. To make communicating with your doctor easier, try to: Speak up when you don't understand. If you need further explanation or clarification, tell your doctor.

How to keep track of what your doctor tells you?

Record your conversations. Try to keep track of what your doctor tells you by taking notes. You might also ask if it's OK to record the conversation. This record will be a good reference if you have questions later.

Why is it important to have a close friend at your appointment?

It may help to think about how you've handled difficult decisions in the past. And it may help to have a close friend or family member at your appointments to help you decide .

How is cancer treatment planned and scheduled?

How Treatment Is Planned and Scheduled. To plan and schedule cancer care and treatments, a lot of information must first be collected. This information often needs to be shared with different specialists , as well as with patients and their caregivers, to help decide what treatment option is best. Once a treatment is decided on, care can be ...

Why do we need a cancer treatment plan?

A cancer treatment plan is kind of like a roadmap because it helps to lay out the expected path of treatment. It is a document that is created by the cancer care team and given to the patient and others that may need to know the planned course of care.

How important is communication in cancer care?

It can be a very involved process. Although treatment and care decisions are mostly made by patients and their cancer care teams, communication with others is very important. Sometimes, though, patients and caregivers might find themselves being the ones having to do most of the communicating.

What to do if you don't get a treatment plan?

If you don't get a written treatment plan, you can ask for a treatment schedule to be written out for you. A treatment schedule includes: The type of treatment that will be given, such as radiation therapy, chemotherapy, targeted therapy, immunotherapy, hormone therapy, etc.

What are the types of support treatments?

Supportive treatments or therapies that might be needed, such as pain medicine, physical therapy, oxygen, or medical equipment

What is treatment planning?

Treatment planning involves figuring out the exact doses of the treatment that will be given and how long it will last.

What to do if you are not getting the information you need?

If you are not getting the information you need or if you think others on your health care team need more information than what's being given to them, talk to your cancer care team about what can be done to improve communication.

What are the treatments for cancer?

These options may include: Surgery. Radiation therapy. Chemotherapy. Hormone therapy. Targeted therapy. Immunotherapy. Active surveillance, also called watchful waiting.

What happens after cancer diagnosis?

After a cancer diagnosis, people with cancer and their families have to make a number of decisions about treatment. These decisions are complicated by feelings of anxiety, unfamiliar words, statistics, and a sense of urgency. But unless the situation is extremely urgent, take time to research your options, ask questions, ...

What is palliative care?

He or she may also use palliative care, also called supportive care, to manage symptoms and side effects. Make sure your doctor explains the goals of your treatment plan and how it will affect you. And make sure it aligns with your personal goals for treatment.

Is cancer care expensive?

The cost of cancer care is often high, and you may have expenses that you were not expecting. Your health care team can help you identify costs related to your treatment options or suggest ways to manage medical and related costs.

Can you get a second opinion from another oncologist?

Many people seek a second or even third opinion from another oncologist, and many doctors encourage it. Different oncologists may have different experiences with various treatments. So seeking multiple opinions can help you make a decision or confirm your current treatment plan. First check with your insurance company to find out if your policy covers a specific doctor or health care system.

Can cancer cause long term side effects?

Sometimes cancer can cause long-term side effects, or late effects, that might develop months or even years after treatment. Talk with your health care team about the possible long-term effects of each treatment option and how they are managed. In addition, discuss possible sexual or reproductive concerns with your health care team, including the risk of not being unable to have children. You have more options to keep your fertility if you address this concern before treatment, instead of waiting until after treatment.

How long before chemo do you eat?

Two to three hours before an infusion, eat light and make your choices high-fiber. Chemo drugs tend to slow peristalsis (digestion and bowel processes), so whatever you eat may be in your digestion for longer than usual and will dry out. 1 

How to recover from chemo?

Remember that chemo affects every cell in your body. Stay well-hydrated by drinking lots of water or juice . If you feel ​​ fuzzy brained from the medications, try a hot tub soak.

Why is drinking water important for chemo?

A benefit of drinking enough water is that it will help your body to process and flush the chemo drugs out of your system sooner, so you can start to recover sooner, too.

How to get hydrated after chemo?

Staying Hydrated by Drinking Fluids. Chemotherapy drugs are very drying to your body's tissues, and the drugs will be going to every cell you have. Right after an infusion, drink 8 ounces of water every hour until bedtime. Avoid caffeine, as it is also drying (it's a diuretic) and may cause you to feel worse.

What are the side effects of chemotherapy?

If you have side effects from chemotherapy that are bothersome, such as nausea, vomiting, rash, swelling, or unusual pain around the injection site, write these down. Your doctor or nurse will need to know how often you're having problems, how severe they are, and how you're coping.

What blood test is done before chemo?

Before you have each round of chemo, you will have a blood test called a complete blood count (CBC). Your CBC provides a reading on all of the types of blood cells produced by the bone marrow which can be affected by chemotherapy. Your red blood cell count and hemoglobin are looked at to see if you have anemia.

What is the blood test for chemo?

Before you have each round of chemo, you will have a blood test called a complete blood count (CBC). Your CBC provides a reading on all of the types of blood cells produced by the bone marrow which can be affected by chemotherapy.